# What's your age range? or Your age in TV years? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 11, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175 "2004-11-11T08:05:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175/41 "2004-11-21T19:33:49Z")
Er, how do people end up in situations where someone is guessing their age? I mean, aside from being carded? I don’t buy alcohol very often, but I haven’t been carded in a while. I think I look pretty much exactly my age, but I would have no way of knowing. I’m female, 33. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175/42 "2004-11-21T19:44:36Z")
When I was 17 someone guessed my age at 32 ( they thought I was the other graduate student in a freshman biology course 😃 ). The mustache probably helped. When I was 30, someone guessed 42. I’m currently 36, closing in on 37 and I shudder to think what I look like now :p. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Luna\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c57346/32.png) [@Luna\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luna_Child)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175/43 "2004-11-21T22:48:38Z")
Well, I figure I’m screwed as far as aging well is concerned. I’m fifteen now(16 in…2 days!) and people have guessed me at around 23, 24. If they know that I’m in high school they generally guess around 19. Don’t think I’ve ever been guessed as younger than I am. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175/44 "2004-11-22T07:03:04Z")
I’m currently 18 (male). In person, my people frequently assume I’m a few years older than I actually am. I’m often offered alcohol in restaurants and was once offered admission to a strip club at 16 (I was tagging along on a delivery; the employee at the door didn’t realize this and tried charging me for admission). This is my first semester of college, but seemingly everyone I meet here assumes I’m in my third year or so. In online conversation, I’ve had several people refuse to believe that I’m younger than 30. I can’t think of any specific instances of my age being underestimated, but I know it’s happened a few times. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@Miss\_Purl\_McKnittington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Purl_McKnittington)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175/45 "2004-11-22T08:36:49Z")
I’m female and 20 years old. When I was 16, I had people asking me if I was in college. Now, (I think) I look about my age. Sometimes I’m asked if I’m a freshman – one guy I met was positively shocked and delighted to hear that I’m not a minor. (Unfortunately, he was creepy and stoned out of his mind. Take his judgment for what it’s worth.) I can understand being taken for both older and younger than I am. I’m short, but hourglass. I have a high voice and a giggle rather than a laugh, but I’m usually talking about “grown-up” topics, rather than, like, that really cute boy who, like, drinks his weight in, like, Miller every weekend. I wear lip gloss, but it’s not Bonne Bell. All I can say is that I’ve noticed in the past six months or so that my face has become more adult looking – slimmer along the jaw and I’ve finally grown into my tall forehead. And it’s about damn time. Goodbye, chipmunk cheeks. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175/46 "2004-11-22T23:10:20Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Er, how do people end up in situations where someone is guessing their age? I mean, aside from being carded? Like thus: " How old are you?" " \_\_." " You’re kidding! I thought you were \_\_!" I suppose this doesn’t happen to people who don’t look much older or younger than they are. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175/47 "2004-11-22T23:14:32Z")
I’m turning 32 in a few days, and I still get ID every time I try to buy alcohol. I used to complain. I no longer do. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175/48 "2004-11-22T23:14:42Z")
I’m turning 32 in a few days, and I still get ID’d every time I try to buy alcohol. I used to complain. I no longer do. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175/49 "2004-11-22T23:43:45Z")
I’m male, age 27. I still get carded for lottery tickets (age 18) and two years ago was told I could pass for 14 (!?!?!). ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175/50 "2004-11-23T00:52:27Z")
I’m male, 18. The oldest I have been called was 19, and the youngest 15. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175/51 "2004-11-23T02:46:48Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Like thus: > > " How old are you?" > " \_\_." > " You’re kidding! I thought you were \_\_!" > > I suppose this doesn’t happen to people who don’t look much older or younger than they are. I can’t even remember the last time someone asked me how old I am. Maybe I just look psycho, like I’ll kick their asses for asking! I guess it just seems strange that so many people seem to end up in conversations that include their ages. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-age-range-or-your-age-in-tv-years/274175.md?page=2)